Studies on sudden fatalities among piglets following parenteral iron therapy.

An investigation was carried out in order to clarify whether there is a correlation between the latent iron-binding capacity, UIBG, in the serum of suckling piglets and sudden fatalities occurring among these animals when they are treated with 250 mg trivalent iron in the form of a complex also containing dextrin, sorbitol, citric acid and lactic acid. In all, 97 animals from 9 litters were used. By administering 100 mg oral divalent iron to 22 animals, the iron-binding capacity was saturated or appreciably reduced 3 hrs. after the oral treatment. After this time, the animals were treated with parenteral iron. Seventeen other animals were treated with 100 mg divalent iron and immediately afterwards with parenteral iron. Three hrs. later, the iron-binding capacity of the animals was exceeded. In 32 of the control animals, UIBG was high before the parenteral treatment. No fatalities were observed among the animals treated with parenteral iron. Twenty-three of the animals had a high iron-binding capacity in spite of having diarrhoea. On parenteral treatment of these animals with the iron complex, no fatalities were observed which could be ascribed to the treatment. The mechanism for the sudden fatalities among suckling piglets after parenteral administration of iron is discussed.